Engine-starter.



L. w. IILEDHAII/I.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 23, I9I4.

l 147,42I, Patented July 20, 1915.

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Laren w. NEEDHAM, or omesso, rniririinrs.

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TofaZZ whomimag/ concerm Be it known that I, LABAN W. NEEDHAM, acitizenA ofthe 'United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, inthe county of Cook, State .of. lllinois, have invented cer` tain new and.useful Improvements in Engine-Starters, of which the following is'laspecification.

' This invention relates to the manuallyr actuated type of starters forautomobileandy like engines, and more particularly type of such.starters which areac't'uated from the seat of an automobile.

And the present improvement haslfor'its objectto provide a simple andefficient struc tural formationl and association" ofparts,

adaptedto afford a substantial operative engagement between thenactuating' nfi'echanism` and the actuated drum of the engine shaft,

and in which an automatic and immediate relief of such operativeengagementis effected by the forward rotation of the en-" gine shaftvunderthe influence of' the engine piston. The arrangement being suchthat with the actuating mechanism in its inactive position frictional'contact with the druinl'of the engine shaft isprevented,with "aconsequent avoidance of noise and wear of parts duringthe ordinaryrunning of the engine',`

all as will hereinafter more fullyy appear.

In the accompanying drawings :'-F igurev showing the general j l, isaperspective view arrangement of the present starter mechanism asapplied to an automobile. Figs. 2 and 3, are companion detail elevationsof the starter :mechanisnnshowing the same in an inactive position andin an active position, respectively.. y I i Similar referencenumerals.iiridicateu like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, l represents the internal combustion engineof an automobile, having the usual engine shaft 2, with which thepresent starter mechanism is associated. Said engine being mounted onthe forward portion of the under-frame 3 of the automobile. l

4 designates a drum iiXedly secured to the engine shaft 2 and having acylindrical perimeter adapted for frictional engagement with thehereinafter described clutch band of the starter mechanism.

5 designates the clutch band above referred to, and which is arranged toencircle the drum 4i aforesaid. Said clutch band 5 speciacatipn ofLeners raient,

to the meenten aan; ao., reis.

' Application filed November 23, lele. Seria1No.-8'Z3,4-.Y5;

` above'mentioned attachingineans comprises an eye G at one end oftheband, andr an angularly disposed flange Zat the other end.

8 designatesthe oating lever above referred to, and formed at one end-with al lug or yshoulder 9 for engagement with the aforesaidattachingiiange .7 of the clutch Vband 5; ln spacedrelation to said lugor 'i shoulder 9, the lever 8 carries a cross pin l0,

adapted for engagement with. the attaching eye of the clutch band 5, v

`ll designates Lone ormore springs attached at one end-to the automobileframe 3, andfat'the other end to the lever 8, adjacent tothe aforesaidcross-pin l0, and adaptedto draw said floating lever 8 and itsassociated clutch bande into the normal inactive'po'sitionillustrated-in Fig. 2.

fl2-designates a fixed rest or abutment vagainst which the floatinglever 8 is drawn by the springs 1l, in a return of said mechanism toaninactive position. And in such `inovement as the floating lever 8,attains a position of rest upon the abutment l2, the inner end ofsaidlever is canted into a position wherein :the attaching ends of theclutch band 5 are spread apart and the diameter of the main hoop shapeportion i tact betweenl the described parts.

l?) designates a chain or like eirible operating connection extendingfrom a point adjacent to the front seat of the automobile, and havingnext to said seat an operating handle le. lnterinediate of its lengthsaid flexible connection is deflected around a uide pulley or sheave l5,and at the other end to that above mentioned is operatively connected tothe aforesaid floating lever 8, preferably by the intermediate link nowto be described. I

16 designates an angularly disposed link or bar pivoted to the outer endof the lever 8, aforesaid, and held in such angular relation by a stopshoulder 17. With such con struction the initial movement of the floatmlli) ing lever 8, is effected With the link 16, in its angular position,and supported therein by the shoulder 17. As said lever 8 advances inits active movement, the link 16, leaves said shoulder 17, and itsfurther function is the same as a link or section of the aforesaidflexible connection 1 3, to Which it is connected.

18 designates a pair of transversely arranged rails secured to theautomobile frame 3, and disposed in spaced relation so as to receivebetween them the floating lever 8, and act as a guide for the same inthe final portion of its active lmovement, and during a correspondingportion of its return movement.

The general operation of the starting mechanism is substantially thesame as the friction band starting mechanism, heretofore used orproposed, and briefly stated is as follows :.With an initial movement ofthe floating lever 8, the attaching ends of the clutch band 5 are drawntogether With relation to the hoop shaped main portion of the clutchband, with a vcorresponding diminution in the diameter of said hoopshape portion.' Accordingly said hoop shaped portion is caused to firmlygrip land engage the perimeter of the drum 4 of the engine shaft, sothat further active movement of the lever 8, will effect a circularmovement of both the clutch band 5 and drum 4, and attain the desiredcompression of a charge of fuel in the explosion chamber of the engine.

Having thus fully described my saidl invention What I claimas new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination with adrum fixed 011 the engine shaft, of a clutch band encircling said drum,a floating lever having attachment at its inner end with the respectiveends of the clutch band, a spring for returning said lever to itsinactive position, and a stationary abutment adapted to support saidlever in an inactive position and insure a movement of the inner end ofthe saine to cause a spreading of the clutch band and free the same fromcontact With the drum aforesaid when the starter mechanism is in- 5tactive, substantially as set forth. f

2. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination With adrun fixed on the engine shaft, of a clutch band encircling said drum, afloating lever having attachment at its inner end With the respectiveends of the clutch band, a spring for returning said lever to itsinactive position, a stationary abutment 4adapted to support said leverin an inactive position and insure a movement of the inner end of thesame to cause a spreading ofthe clutch band and free the same fromcontact with the drum aforesaid when the starter mechanism is inactive,a flexible pull connection associated with, said floatinglever andextending to a point adjacent to the seat of the operator, and a sheavefor deflecting said connection intermediate its length, substantially asset forth.

3. In a starter for internal combustion engines, the combination with adrum fixed on the engine shaft, of a clutch band encircling said drum, afloating lever having attachment at its inner end With the respectiveends of the clutch band, a spring for returning said lever to itsinactive position, a stationary abutment adapted to support said leve-rin an inactive position `and insure a movement of the inner end of thesame to cause a spreading of the clutch band and free the same fromcontact with the drum aforesaid when ,thestarter mechanism is inactive,anlangularly disposed link pivoted at the outer end of the oating lever,said lever having a lateral abutment for said link, a flexible pullconnection attached to said link and extending to a pointadjacent to theseat of the operator, and a `sheave for defiecting said connectionintermediate its length, substantially as set forth.

Signed atChicago, Illinois, this 21st day of November, 1914.

LABAN W. NEEDHAM.

Witnesses:

ROBERT BURNS, IVA L. CRANE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained fon five cents each,`by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

